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Minnetonka veterinarian offers recommendations for soothing animals triggered by the sounds of the season.
A late-night thunderstorm or fireworks on the Fourth of July are familiar sounds this time of year, but they create anxiety for some pets, leaving owners looking for ways to restore peace and calm.
Kelly Brenning, doctor of veterinary medicine at Village Animal Hospital in Minnetonka, offers ways to calm pets.
How can we help dogs?
The best thing to do is discuss these situations with your veterinarian. They will be able to address each pet as an individual and know what the best plan would be. Making sure you have a good working client-owner-pet relationship with a veterinarian is the first step to helping a pet get relief.
What about using medications?
There are several prescription and nonprescription options. Some of the nonprescription options work to naturally help calm a pet. There are oral medications, supplements, pheromone collars or sprays. Sometimes, you have to try several before finding the best fit for your pet. Each medication or product has its own set of rules of when to use or give and how often. A veterinarian’s advice and input can help pet owners narrow down the variety available.
What about natural remedies?
Some of the pheromone therapies like Adaptil or Feliway and even a calming jacket [similar to swaddling babies] work well to naturally help calm a pet … You can even find natural supplements that contain nondrowsy products that induce calming.
Are behavioral methods used?
Training and calming protocols can help. It will help give confidence to the pet that they are safe, which is really what they are seeking when scared. Using white noise or a radio playing calming music is a great tool. There are some great [dog calming] playlists on some of the music streaming services.
Are certain breeds affected?
In general, any breed, age or gender of dogs can have anxiety. We tend to see smaller breeds and nonsporting breeds suffer more often. Dogs used to loud noises, like hunting dogs, may not be scared as often, but they still can react to storms or fireworks. Also adopted dogs that may not have had much exposure to various noises or situations can be more likely to develop situational anxiety.
Is age a factor?
We do see anxiety progress or worsen when a pet ages. This may be due to many factors, including cognitive changes and medical changes like vision or hearing.
What about cats?
Cats can also be affected but are usually less obvious about it. Cats tend to hide or become vocal and seek owner’s attention. They are less likely to be destructive when scared. Most of the tools used with dogs are available for cats as well.
Village Animal Hospital
17660 Highway 7, Minnetonka; 952.474.4194
Facebook: Village Animal Hospital
Instagram: @villageanimalhospitalmn
